Overflow crowd joins in prayer service at ACU

0 Commentsby Carmen Foster | 11.05.11 | Gatherings

Members of the ACU community participated in a candlelight prayer service in the Beauchamp Amphitheater (Photo by Garrett Hoskins)

Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and friends filled ACU’s Beauchamp Amphitheater tonight in an outpouring of love for victims of the bus accident earlier today that took the life of one student and left others with injuries ranging from minor to critical.

A few hours earlier, the bus containing 16 representatives from the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences rolled over on U.S. Highway 83 at the intersection of County Road 234 in Runnels County. The group was on its way to Medina Children’s Home in Medina, Texas, for a weekend of mission work.

Hugs and tears were shared throughout the hour-long candlelight prayer service led by Dr. Mark Hamilton, associate dean of the Graduate School of Theology.
Hamilton quoted Psalm 130: “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord.”

“This is not a night for explaining things, but it is a night to remember things,” he said. “God weeps with us more than we know, and God will have to straighten this out.”

Amanda Wilson from Walsenburg, Colo., one of the passengers who suffered minor injuries, came straight from Hendrick Medical Center to attend the service. “You are all such an amazing community. Your prayers and your support are so important to everybody involved in this,” she told the gathering.

After singing and a time of prayer, Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president for student life and dean of students, gave updates on the conditions of those involved in the accident and said the ACU family will continue to find ways to support and encourage the families affected by the tragedy throughout the coming days.

See emergency.acu.edu for the latest information.

The hour-long service helped bring the campus together on a chilly Friday night. (Photo by Garrett Hoskins)